Pedro Feliz May Not Be Leaving Philadelphia Phillies After All

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A lot of the talk around the Phillies right now is regarding who will replace Pedro Feliz as third baseman, after the team declined their $5.5 million option to bring him back next season.

The team will test the free-agent market but don’t be surprised if there is no new third baseman after all.

Feliz may just be the best option.

Names like Adrian Beltre, Chone Figgins, Mark DeRosa, Joe Crede, Troy Glaus, Melvin Mora, Placido Polanco, and even Miguel Tejada have arisen to compete with Feliz, but there are flaws just about everywhere you look in that bunch.

Though baseball has no salary cap, the Phillies do and they already have an enormous payroll. Players like Figgins and Beltre will command large dollar amounts for not much more production than Feliz provided the team with.

Feliz was certainly among the unappreciated members of the 2009 Phillies, doing so much good with his glove and holding his own from the right-hand batter's box.

His .266 batting average and 82 RBIs are just about all you can ask from the No. 7 hitter in your lineup. Feliz provides you with a vacuum around the hot corner making certain nothing gets by him.

Feliz would come affordably and willingly. He has been a contributor to the unbelievable team chemistry throughout his tenure here.

All this begs the question, why are so many people looking for a change at third. Step back, look around the market. It just doesn’t get much better than this.

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Send e-mail to sroddy@highhopesblog.com or go to HighHopesBlog.com for more of Shay Roddy's work.

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